Saturday, June 19, 2010

What better place to have a green wedding than the green mountain state...Vermont. It's practically a no-brainer. Vermont is the only Northeastern state able to comply with the current "Clean Air Act". Vermont is the home of "Cow Power" which takes methane from dairy barns and converts it into electricity and Vermonters are crazy about their wilderness and work hard to preserve their clear streams and wildlife habitat. Since green is so much a part of how Vermonters choose to live and work, you will find that creating your green, eco-friendly wedding is a lot easier here than in most of the world.

First you will want a dress...how about a custom, eco-friendly hemp creation? Tara Lynn studios in Sutton Vermont is where you want to go. These dresses are very earth friendly and one of a kind creations just as comfortable in art galleries as they are on runways. Tara Lynn studio is even solar powered so you really can't get much greener.

What about shoes? How about shoes made from recycled material and certified vegan? Lenny's Shoe and Apparel in Barre, Simon the Tanner in Island Pond and Johnson Farm and Home in Johnson, Vermont carries them... Simple Shoes have sandals that will match your dress and your ethics perfectly. My daughter got a pair of these just before heading to Germany for the year. If you know anything about Europe, that meant daily walking and lots of it. She was amazed that the shoes lasted the entire year being worn almost every day and walking constantly.

Next, consider a caterer whose vegetarian creations are so good that no one will even notice that there isn't the usual meat centric offerings normally featured at weddings. Sweet Basil Cafe in Lyndonville, Vermont will create a wedding feast you will be proud to serve. It's just good food, exquisitely presented and seasoned to perfection with many of the ingredients coming straight out of their garden...organically grown of course.

A fair trade, blood diamond free ring is a little harder to find. Perrywinkle's, in Burlington (227 Main Street) advertise that they are blood free diamond retailers. For a band I would recommend Vermont artist Jim Sardonis. He created my husband's and my wedding bands and we couldn't be happier. Jim is the creator of the whale's tails along hwy 89 just south of Burlington and his work is found in private and public collections across the country. We are fortunate to have such a great artist in our midst and he is supremely easy to work with and very down-to-earth. He will create the green wedding ring you desire for the asking.

What about arriving in style burning hay instead of gas? Horse drawn carriages are a little fancier than a bicycle built for two and a whole lot more romantic. Hayden Tanner, of West Burke can pick you up in style with his carriage and his organically fed Belgian horses. All of Hayden and Elizabeth Tanner's livestock is organic and humanely raised. If you are lucky, you might even be able to get some of their maple syrup--which is harvested with the same horses that would pull your carriage or sleigh, if your wedding falls during Vermont's beautiful winter.

Decorations and wedding favors are your chance to get really creative. These pumpkins and gourds make wonderful, whimsical center pieces that celebrate abundance. Maple syrup favors are always great and since Vermont is the nation's top producer of maple products you will find them everywhere. What about some of Vermont's wicked Good Wild Apple Butter or Pumpkin Butter from Sweet Basil Cafe in Lyndonville? Harvested from local wild apples and organically grown pumpkins it is a taste of Vermont that you and your guests will love.

Finally, what about your photographer? Make sure you are taking advantage of the digital age with digital proofing option...way more eco friendly than printed proofs. In addition to using less paper and chemical for printing, Dona Davis Photography is proud to announce that green wedding albums are now available! Made entirely from recycled and green materials but giving you the same archival and high quality you want in a wedding album. You will not feel that you have been cutting back with these albums from GP Albums. Green is the new black!

So go green at your wedding in the green mountain state. You won't have to scrimp on style or taste.

Friday, June 18, 2010

Edson Hill Manor is a great location in Stowe...a little off the beaten path but quite wonderful once you find it. It has an old manor house and cottages on the grounds to accommodate plenty of guests. The grounds are grand, in the truest sense of the word--well groomed and capacious. I love the walk down to the ceremony site on the huge lawn. Great for pictures of the bride coming down and lots of time for people to get a good look. (It is down a large outdoor staircase...high heels and long trains beware!)

We took pictures all over the place...everything being very convenient to get to. We started right there on the lawn and made our way to the pond. Took some pictures in the gardens and then found these aderondak chairs--how Vermont!

Thursday, June 17, 2010

It was a rainy and windy day when this wedding took place at the Wildflower Inn on Darling Hill Road in Lyndonville, Vermont. The bride was insistent that we have the ceremony up on the hill as planned...we were all a little sceptical...but as it turned out, she was right. The rain held off for the entire ceremony and even allowed for some formals on the terrace afterwards. What a great day.

If you don't know the Wildflower, you should check it out. Perched on one of the most picturesque roads in the Northeast Kingdom with views of Whilloughby Gap in the back and the imposing view of Burke Mountain from the ceremony site, it is truly an inspiring place to be.

This day was very windy but the ceremony was lovely...everyone had to hold down their skirts for most of the ceremony but when it came time for the "I do's" it was as if the very air held it's breath and we were in total calm for the rest of the ceremony. Magical things are always happening at weddings.

The wind made photographing the kiss a little difficult...it kept blowing the bride's veil across her face so the matron of honor was having to hang on to it (as you can see from the picture above). It kind of ruined what would have been a fabulous picture so I photo-shopped it right out. Be sure to click on the picture below so you can see the larger version. Look ma, no hand!

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

This Tuesday wedding had a lot of strikes against it from the start. The bride and groom were moving from Beirut to Texas. The Groom's parents live in Canada, so they decided to have the wedding at the The Round Barn in Waitsfield, Vermont. I never got to meet any of the bridal party or family until an hour or so before the wedding. They only wanted to have me for four hours (which is always challenging) and finally...it rained!

It just shows you that "weddings happen" regardless of what you do or what goes wrong and this wedding turned out to be lovely. The day was hot but the bride was excited and composed...ready for anything (always good).

Her brother walked her "down the aisle"...here meaning across the field and the rain held off just enough to make it through the entire ceremony with nothing more than sprinkles.

Someone brought black umbrellas out after the ceremony. Of course this caused the rain to go away and leave us with a dramatic sky. Funny how it always seems to work that way.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

This past weekend was spectacular...after some worrying news from the weather man. It was one of those times that I don't know what to mention first! The adorable three year old flower girl...how nice everyone was...the bride and groom...the venue...the music...everything was so great that I want to mention it all.

The Alerin Barn is one of my favourite places to shoot. The Tomlinson's, who built, conceived, run and own the barn really know how to take all the pressure off of everyone involved in the wedding...weddings just magically happen at the Alerin...thanks to Christy's seamless organisational skills and attention to detail.

Every time I go back there is something new and exciting at the Alerin Barn. The new gardens and topiary are lovely touches and the huge covered porch around the house has been made into a cozy place for pictures and cocktails. There is even a romantic "shepherd's camp" to steal away to if the bride and groom want a romantic moment alone.

This wedding, however, had a musical talent...phenomenon, really, in the form of a violinist who has recently come back to the area: Patrick Ross(www.profiddler.com).

He played gorgeous classical violin up on the hill for the guest as they assembled for the ceremony, played the bride down the aisle and back, and I was thinking "classical violinist" and wondering what orchestra he played with. Then, as we headed down the hill he broke into a rousing Celtic fiddle to start the celebration.

If that wasn't enough, Patrick was also the DJ and in what is probably the most memorable musical moment of any reception, while the bride was dancing with one of the guests to "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" and right in the middle of the big fiddle solo, the music went low and Patrick ran down the stairs and played and danced for the screaming, laughing, delight of everyone watching.

He truly is an act to remember...you can reach Patrick at worldfiddler@hotmail.com . You will be impressed, amazed and delighted with his talent!

Be sure to check out more weddings from all over Vermont and New England at DonaDavis.com

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Catamount Country Club in Williston, Vermont has created quite the venue for wedding day festivities. The garden is a great spot for weddings with the guests looking down and backwards from what the "normal wedding setting" usually is. The bride and groom are close to the covered porch so every word and every expression can be seen by the guests.

The dining room is wonderful, with a vaulted ceiling and balcony overlooking the dance floor (how convenient for me:). There is a lot of potential for light streaming in through the windows that look out on to the green with views of Camel's Hump in the background. Very Vermont.

We stole away to the gardens for photos. There is a lovely bridge and benches for great intimate photos of the bride and groom and it's far enough away from all the action that you really feel totally private.

Then, there's the driving range! What can I say. People in evening wear look fabulous while golfing!

You really owe it to yourself to check out Catamount if you are planning a wedding. The garden and grounds are ideal for fun, the staff is professional and really caters to weddings. Visit them at: http://www.catamountcountryclub.com/